The silence in Nate's chamber felt heavy. The walls themselves were still holding onto what had just happened.
Nate stood where Alaric had stopped him.
His breathing had already evened out. His claws had retracted and his eyes were no longer gold.
There was no rage left in him now and that was the strange part.
The rage had burned fast, bright, and violent, then disappeared as quickly as she left. What remained instead was stillness.
He stared at the floor where Aire had stood and at the faint trace of blood that had dripped earlier before it was wiped away in haste.
The memory of it did not fade. It replayed too clearly. He remembered her back slammed against the wall.
The sound of it, and her gasp. He remembered how her hands trembled as she tried to pull him off.
He remembered her eyes. His jaw clenched at the confusion that appeared in them before the fear.
Nate exhaled slowly through his nose.
